Why Arteta's ruthless transfer business will help Arsenal keep Saka
FT Desk
- Updated: 31 Mar 2022 18:30 BST
- 3 min read
The January transfer window is now long gone in the minds of most Arsenal fans but the club’s clever transfer business then could still have a huge impact on what happens in the summer.
While the club will undoubtedly be keen on signing a new striker and perhaps more depth in the wing position, the no.1 priority for Arsenal this year will be signing Bukayo Saka up to a new contract.
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Although the England international has a deal that is set to run until 2024, the player will be keen on a wage bump which reflects his new role in Mikel Arteta’s team. And the club will be hoping a new deal could stem off any interest from the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.
Indeed, when asked about the prospect of Saka being offered a new deal, Arteta was in a coy mood in Thursday’s press conference and gave little away.
“We are extremely happy with Bukayo,” said the Arsenal manager. “We are never going to share any conversations relating to private contracts but we are very pleased with him.”
However, while fans anxiously await some good news on that front, they should consider why January’s transfer dealings have put their club in a much stronger position to keep Saka at the club.
Arsenal’s clever transfer moves
Since Arteta took on the reins at Arsenal, the club have slowly but surely released older and expensive players from their contracts and allowed them to leave for free.
Last season Mesut Ozil, Shkodran Mustafi, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Henrikh Mkhitaryan all left the club for free in one form or another and this season has seen Callum Chambers, Saed Kolasinac and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang follow suit.
In total, the wages the club paid those players before they agreed to leave has now reached almost £50 million (€60 million) and that’s without even taking into account the numerous players that have been loaned out and have their wages paid by other clubs.
As such, Arsenal will now go into the summer transfer window with far more of their budget available to put towards a more enticing offer for Saka. And could end up making him one of the highest paid players in English football as a result.
